Abstract: | Gel permeation chromatograms of a hindered-phenolic, branched condensation polymer display pronounced bimodality at high conversion. The true molecular weight distributions, obtained by means of a GPC calibration curve based on narrow-distribution fractions, exhibit corresponding anomalous high-molecular-weight “shoulders.” These results are discussed in terms of preferential aggregation and reaction of the higher-molecular-weight species during the polymerization, promoted by intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the apolar reaction medium. |